StreetSmart SA, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the social integration and upliftment of street children has launched in Pretoria and is rallying restaurants to become involved in helping to rebuild the lives of children at risk in the city.

“Education, skills training and family reunification of street children are the major objectives of StreetSmart and our committee in Pretoria believe that our local community can benefit immensely from this project. We as volunteers and restaurateurs can join hands and make a difference” said Hettie de Wet, chairman of the Pretoria Committee of StreetSmartSA at the launch at Ritrovo Ristorante in Waterkloof Heights.

Funds are raised by adding a voluntary R5 donation to each table's bill at participating restaurants. Since its inception in Cape Town in 2005 under the patronage of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, StreetSmart has raised a total of over R6,3 million.

The beneficiary selected for StreetSmart Pretoria is PEN-Streetwise, a project that reaches out to Orphaned and Vulnerable Children and Street children, and reconciles them where possible with their families. Alternatively, children who do not have access to family, parents or caring adults, are offered care and support at the Leratong Child- and Youth care Center.

“When I first joined StreetSmartSA founder Margi Biggs on the board way back in 2005 we kept talking about going national withthis great concept. Thanks to her determination and dedication, and the money given to her for the Shoprite Checkers Woman of the Year Award, this is now becoming a reality. I am very excited that this is happening and am grateful to the teams in Johannesburg and now also Pretoria for their passion to create a sustainable set up that will see many children benefit in the Gauteng province,” says Nils Heckscher, chairman of the StreetSmart SA Board.

All the money raised is distributed to various organisations working with street children within the communities of participating restaurants. During 2012 alone, the StreetSmart initiative funded four social workers, one family reconstruction worker, one panel beating instructor and two aftercareteachers directly benefiting over 1 108 children through various beneficiary organisations in the greater Cape Town and Winelands area.

There are currently 79 StreetSmart restaurants running this worthy initiative in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, Paarl,Somerset West and Swellendam.

At the time of the launch, eight Pretoria restaurants had already joined the StreetSmart initiative: Chapters Restaurant, Copperleaf Café, Hemingway’s Restaurant, Karoo Café, Karoo Cattle & Land-Irene, Liribisi Lodge, Mosaic at The Orient, Prosopa and Ritrovo.

StreetSmart SAis a registered Public Benefit as well as a Non Profit Organisation and ensures that every cent donated by diners goes towards social and educational upliftment projects for street children. StreetSmart's goal is to be part of the process of social normalisation and to encourage the public not to give money into the hands of a child as this keeps them on the streets. In essence, eating and donating at a StreetSmart restaurant is the responsible way to help a street child.

Did you know!

Your donation to StreetSmart can be offset against your tax. Should you need a tax receipt, please request one from our
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A message from our founding Patron

"It gives me great pleasure to support StreetSmart South Africa. So when you are enjoying an evening out with good foods, good wine and good company, reflect on how your life is enriched. Then do a kind thing. Give to StreetSmart. God bless you."